THE GATHERING.

WHITHER away, with heart, and thoughts, and longings ?

Gather together what is strewed abroad !
And, through Eternity's One living Centre,

Let flow the powers of love direct to God !
Let all things go ! then shalt thou find The One ;

And all that heart can need, in that alone.

JESUS TO THE SOUL.

CLEAR out thy heart, and all, for Me:

The house is Mine-dear child, be still !
Sit down, and watch Me silently,

Whilst through each part I work My Will.

THE BLESSED RETREAT.

May the whole world, its fairest and its sweetest,

Be to thy spirit as a desert wild :
Thine own heart be thy secret place of refuge, i

Where God shall hold communion with His child.

“ IT WILL SOON BE ACCOMPLISHED.”

AFTER rain, gleams forth the blessed sunshine;

After cold and storm, come summer days : Sweet rest follows after cross and sorrow ;

Happiness the pain at last allays. Now, 'tis day;—and now, the night draws nigh :

Soon, “ Fulfilled !” shall be our joyful cry.

“I AWAIT THE VISIT.”

Glad tidings reach me from my Lord;—that He,

My spirits Bridegroom, soon will come to me : Therefore I stay at home by night and day,

Lest He should come whilst I am far away.

“WHAT STANDS OUTSIDE CONCERNS

THEE NOT.”

All outer things, leave standing there !

They bring but care and strife.
To walk, in soul, with God alone,

Brings rest, and joy, and life.

ADAM'S DEATH IS CHRIST'S LIFE.

As Nature's life within thy soul shall disappear,

The more the Life of Christ shall be revealed in thee : Slay, then, what can be slain ; nor cross nor sorrow fear !

What of the Old is lost, in Christ made new shall be.

“SINK DOWN, AS A LITTLE CHILD,

IN THE TENDER MERCY."

SWEET and bitter;

Joy and sorrow ;-
All that Jesus sends is best.
Lie still, only,

In the Cradle :
In His Keeping take thy rest.

OBEDIENCE IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE.

He serves and loves God better, who can break his own

self-will, Than he who doth some mighty work of his own mind

fulfil.

AS WITH GOD ALONE.

WHATE'ER may come, receive from God, as good :,
Towards Him, submissive be thy spirit's mood.
On God, thy life, with all its burdens, cast :
Think more of Him than self, from first to last.
Ah, Loving God, the soul that joys in Thee,
Can find with Thee delight, in misery!

THE FREEDOM OF THE CHILDREN OF

GOD. O NOBLE Freedom his, whose soul apart doth lie From all that is not God, in blessed, will-less rest! Untouched by cares and sorrows, it abides on high, Where nought can mar its shelter on The Father's

Breast.

“WITHOUT DISSIMULATION.”

LET all thy deeds be right and true ;

And never act a part :
With God Himself thou hast to do,

Who looketh on the heart.

LOOKING UNTO JESUS.

Forget thyself, O sinner, and thy sins' full surging tide : Look up to Jesus—so shalt thou find mercy in His

sight! Live on for ever thus-beholding Him, and nought

beside ; Till, through that gaze transfigured, thou become a Child

of Light

THE SELF-DRAWING LOVE.

God's Love, my living Magnet, draweth me,

With soft, yet all-resistless, inward force ; So that my spirit walketh in His ways :

It walks, and runs; but burdens not its course With too much action ;-lives without a will ;Sinks into God's Own Bosom, and is still.

“THOU BEHOLDEST GOD WHEN THINE

EYES ARE CLOSED.”

Whoso his eyes to self and all things here doth close, Beholdeth God in Light; and dwells in sure repose.